Wednesday Worship~My Passion

Ready to offer praise to Jesus today? Is He your passion...your life...your love...your God?

Thank you, Travis Cottrell, for leading us to the throne today.

What's Stopping You?

"...we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)

I must confess. My dog and I are pouting this morning. We both really want to be enjoying this deliciously warm spring day on our screened in back porch. There's not much that I love better than to grab my Bible, a good cup of coffee, and my computer and sit on my comfy, cushioned wicker loveseat with my feet propped up on the matching chair. The birds are chirping their merry tune. The breeze is luscious. Everything is budding and blooming in brilliant greens and pinks and purples. The sun is shining on Cocoa's favorite spot.

And we're inside. Trying to have a positive attitude. At least I am. She's asleep in her Daddy's recliner.

What's stopping us from doing what we want to do today?

Pollen. The yellow powder has made its home on every imaginable surface...dense and thick and poofy. Yes, everytime a foot hits the floor...an arm touches the door...or the leash plops on the couch, a poof of yellow flies through the air seeking yet another something to blanket. It lands on my shoes, my clothes...surely determined to find its way inside my house one way or another...even hitchhiking in on Cocoa's paws. Yet another reason to be disgruntled.

The powerwasher is in the garage. Think I may have to hook it up and blast my blues away!

That pollen and the need for powerwashing just got me to thinking.

What's stopping me...or you... from doing what we want to do? Or feel led to do?  Or dream of doing?

It might be something as simple as writing a note of encouragement, doing some small random act of kindness, making a phone call to a friend. Or perhaps it's taking a leap of faith, trusting God as we step out of our boats and into the ocean of obedience.

Paul reminds us that we have the "power" available to us...to "fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." Let's access that power today!

Lord, thank You for Your creation...even for pollen, for we know that it serves a worthy purpose. Father, help us to hear Your voice as it prompts us to act. Help us to seek the power that You provide and to follow as You lead. Oh, may You be glorified in us today, whatever our tasks may be.

Wednesday Worship~Love the Way You Hold Me!

Wake up and get your toes tapping!!! Enjoy this fun song by Jamie Grace (with Toby Mac)!

Oh yeah, I love the way He holds me!

Praying you feel His arms today!

Wisdom and Foolishness

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Are you listening for His words and putting them into practice?

Are you trusting in the One who is our Rock?

Stand strong with Him through the rains and the winds. Be wise.

Oh, how He loves you!

Wednesday Worship~Total Praise

Lifting my hands in total praise...to the source of my strength and the strength of my life. Won't you join me?

Monday Meditation~Our Help

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-

He who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, He who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you-

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-

He will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

He is our help. Lift your eyes to Him today.

What's Your Eggnog?

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 NIV

Her only source of physical nourishment was Eggnog. For weeks.

My precious Grandmother left her  fragile, earthly body and gained a healthy, heavenly one yesterday. She had survived for weeks on eggnog. Her ability to swallow diminishing, it was one of the few things she could ingest. And she loved it. It made her blue eyes sparkle and gave her the sweetest toothless grin.

My Mama went to great lengths to find eggnog, as the stores no longer carry it after Christmas. What a blessing that an angel named Sheila donated cans (from her own business) that sustained my Grandmother through recent days.

Physically, that is.

Spiritually, even though her mental capacity was hampered by dementia, I know that the Lord was the source of her strength. Hymns made her smile and nod her head.

And He is mine. And my family's.

As I lay on the floor of my Grandmother's room one night, I struggled as she agonized with pain and discomfort. God brought a verse to my mind. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 ESV I turned that into my prayer...for my Grandmother, for my parents, and for myself.

The Spirit reminded me of the great hymn that says,

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Oh yes, He was with my Grandmother to the end...and now in her new beginning as she walks the streets of gold with Him and with her loved ones that went before her.

How thankful for the blessed assurance that He gave me that night. I want to live my life with my mind fixed on Him, receiving His peace as I trust in Him. Oh for grace to trust Him more.

God gave me those words...from His Word and the good old Baptist Hymnal as my eggnog.

What's yours?

Wednesday Worship~Strong Enough

When we can't see and we can't understand...when we're just not strong enough...

He sees. He knows. He is our strength.

Monday Meditation~Seeing and Knowing

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)

NOW there is so much we don't see clearly...just can't understand. THEN we will see and know...fully.

Our God is sovereign. He holds our NOW and our THEN in His mighty hands.

Oh to trust Him more.